CHINESE actor Ling Xiaosu issued a statement on his agent’s microblog in response to the recent rumors of his ex-wife Yao Chen’s past extramarital affairs, the first time the lesser-known actor broke his silence since his divorce with one of China’s top actresses.

    Last week, Yao, one of the most followed microbloggers in the world, was accused by Beijing entertainment businessman Ju Chunlei on his microblog of having at least four affairs during her marriage with Ling from 2004 to 2011. Ju said Ling told him about the affairs recently while he was drunk.

    According to Ju’s post, Yao mainly slept with actors who worked with her on her TV series and told Ling about the affairs herself. In Ju’s post, Ling forgave Yao each time and never told anyone else about Yao’s affairs.

    After Ju’s post was released last week, Yao rebuffed it on her microblog, saying it was not true, but her clean and positive image has already been severely damaged.

    Yao, 35, started dating Ling, 34, while they were studying at the Beijing Film Academy from 1999 to 2003. The two were married soon after graduation. She gained national stardom in 2005 after starring in the hit TV comedy “My Own Swordsman.”

    Due to Yao’s comic screen image, outgoing personality at public activities and outspoken opinions on social issues on her microblog, Yao soon formed a large fan base while Ling struggled with his career. Yao has the largest number of followers on Sina Weibo, with over 73 million as of yesterday. In 2014, Yao was on Time’s list of 100 global celebrities.

    The press and fans acclaimed Yao and Ling as a “model couple” since the two delighted their fans with their college-romance stories and ensuing marriage. Their divorce seemed to come out of the blue in early 2011. The two never publicly gave a reason for their divorce.

    Rumors said Ling might have had an affair with actress Tang Yifei after they starred in a TV drama together in 2010, but Ling denied it. In June 2012, Ling married Tang. Later that same year, Yao married photographer Cao Yu and gave birth to a son in 2013.

    In Ling’s statement on Saturday, he didn’t clearly confirm or deny the rumors, saying Tang carried a lot of burdens when she was married to him. Ling also thanked Yao in the statement, saying, “Everyone may go wrong, but they will finally take the right path.”

    Yao has not commented on Ling’s statement.(Cao Zhen)